This was followed by massive Russian bombing of cities across Ukraine. An explosion on the Kerch Strait bridge The linking of the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula shows that the Ukraine war is in a dangerous escalatory spiral with no way out. Saturday’s attack on a Russian-built bridge was welcomed by many in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser Mykhailo Podolik calling it “just the beginning”. but Russia retaliated the next day With its wide-ranging missile attack on Ukraine since the war began on 24 February, targeting military and civilian infrastructure. The missile strike has not only demonstrated Russia’s firepower eight months into the war, but it also has little regard for civilian life and infrastructure. It also points to the desperation of Russia, whose military has faced several setbacks in recent weeks. But apart from this display of force punishing the population of Ukraine, the attack has little strategic significance. It has not improved Russia’s battlefield situation. And that hasn’t undermined the resolve of Ukraine and its allies to continue resisting the Russian invasion. In contrast, the Group of Seven industrialized countries has vowed continued support for Ukraine “as long as it takes”.
Typically, conflicts end either with an outright victory by one side or through negotiations. At this point in the Ukraine war both possibilities look distant. Russia wants to capture at least the eastern and southern provinces of Ukraine. It has made some regional gains but its progress has been halted by Ukrainian troops backed by NATO. Ukraine wants to remove Russian troops from all occupied territories, including Crimea, which appears impractical. And Russian President Putin’s unilateral decision to annex four Ukrainian provinces, in violation of international law and norms, has made prospects for peace extremely difficult. But the alternative to the talks is a continuation of the conflict – Europe’s deadliest land war since World War II, with its human and economic costs and growing fears of a nuclear attack. That is the last thing the world wants now. Even in 1962, when Soviet nuclear missiles were in Cuba and American warships seceded the Caribbean Sea, Kennedy and Khrushchev spoke to each other, exchanged letters and sought solutions to the missile crisis that had led to The world was pushed to the brink of nuclear. war. Mr. Putin should back down from his extremist threats and make some concrete proposals for talks. His rivals in the West must also work towards creating the conditions for negotiations that can end the conflict that has already wreaked havoc.